Bioactive Glasses/Polylactic Acid for Bone Tissue Engineering
摘要
The fabrication of a suitable scaffold material is one of the major challenges for bone tissue engineering (BTE). Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most favorable matrix materials in BTE owing to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, PLA suffers from some shortcomings including low degradation rate, low cell adhesion due to its hydrophobic properties, and inflammatory reactions in vivo due to its degradation product, lactic acid. Therefore, incorporating bioactive reinforcements is considered a powerful method to alleviate these issues. This chapter presents a comprehensive study on recent advances in bioactive glasses/polylactic acid (BG/PLA) for BTE, including various methods of production and the evaluation of the scaffolds in terms of porosity, mechanical properties, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility and bioactivity for BTE applications. The BG/PLA composites combine the advantages of both constituting phases, the mechanical strength of the polymer matrix, ease of processing, and bone growth ability. This chapter aims to empower readers with contemporary knowledge regarding the synthesis techniques of scaffolds, particularly focusing on bioglass and polylactic acid scaffolds. The goal is to establish a foundational understanding of how scaffold design has evolved and been modified, particularly in tissue engineering applications.